This new feature will enable enhanced connectivity options between the WilTel and SNET frame relay networks, resulting in WilTel's customers being able to interconnect with SNET's frame relay service anywhere in Connecticut.

Commercial availability is expected during the second quarter of 1995. "Users will benefit as a result of WilTel and SNET working together to provide reliable, efficient NNI connections," said Dawn Honeyman, product manager for WilTel. "Once this service is rolled out, both WilTel customers and SNET customers can take advantage of end-to-end service through the linked frame relay networks." Testing of the NNI connections included host-to-host connectivity, interactive sessions and transfers of large files using a port connection of T1 speed.

Operational tests included forcing the system to fail in order to assess the performance of the connections between SNET's frame relay platform and WilTel's network. Testing was conducted during the last quarter of 1994. Customers who benefit from NNI are those with multi-LATA, multi-state and multi-LEC networks. Also, customers with multiple sites within Connecticut wishing to connect to other national locations will benefit from the WilTel NNI connection.

One advantage of NNI connectivity is an enhanced monitoring capability that allows both SNET and WilTel to "see" into both networks. SNET, headquartered in New Haven, Ct., is the nation's tenth largest telecommunications company, providing a full suite of access services, intelligent network gateway services and billing services to interexchange and local exchange carriers.

WilTel is a full-service telecommunications company that offers domestic and international data, voice and video products and services to carriers and large business customers. WilTel operates a nationwide digital fiber-optic network for its parent company, LDDS, which is one of the four largest U.S.-based long-distance carriers. The shares of LDDS Communications Inc. trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol LDDS.